Leicester factory site gets smart new look and lifestyle

A disused and dismal industrial site in Leicester has been given a smart new lifestyle with more than 80 high-quality homes provided by Midland Heart in partnership with Countryside Partnerships East Midlands.

Green Lane Road is among a trio of sites being created by the housing association and developer bringing much-needed affordable housing near to the facilities and amenities of the city centre.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz visited the site as work began in 2017, commenting: “Leicester, like most other cities in this country, desperately needs quality homes for rent, at prices local people can afford. The new housing development will bring hope and high quality housing for a mixture of families and single people, in the very heart of our community.

“I am also extremely pleased to see a disused industrial site close to the city centre and all its amenities and transport links being reclaimed in such a positive way.”

Families are now gradually moving on to the £14.4m development which is providing 49 homes for affordable rent and 33 for shared ownership as well as improving the environment for many other local residents who once overlooked a factory site.

Chris Miller, Director of Development at Midland Heart, said: “Green Lane Road, together with the other two developments at Wolsey Island and St Mary’s at Aylestone, total a £58m investment and bring much-needed housing and regeneration to the Leicester area.

“In addition, more than half of the 400 homes across the three sites are for affordable rent or shared ownership, which is good news for local people seeking social housing."

Gary Turner, Partnerships and Investment Director for Countryside Partnerships East Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the first few residents to the affordable homes collection at Green Lane Road. These properties will help to turn the tide on the shortage of affordable homes and will give people the chance to get a foot on the property ladder.

“We would like to thank our partners at Midland Heart and Leicester City Council for helping us to make the scheme a success.”

Between now and February 2019, tenants will move into Green Lane Road on a weekly basis as homes are completed.

Tenants are also moving into Wolsey Island, where an old factory site is providing land for 188 properties, and St Mary’s where 125 homes are being built on former allotment plots. All three sites will be completed during 2019.